Archery finger tabs



Sept. 12, 1951 J. P. GRoss ETAL ARCHERY FINGER TABS Filed Sept. 25, 1959 iletting it slide Vol the lingertips.

2,999,243 ARCHERY FINGER TABS Joseph P. Gross, 3646A N. 19th St., and Elmer G. leride,

1514 N. 34th St., both of Milwaukee, Wis.

Filed Sept. '25, 1959, Ser. No. 842,444 2 Claims. (Cl. 2-'21) This invention relates to improvements in archery linger tabs, and more particularly to arab, or finger guard, which protects the archers fingers without i'nterferring with his shooting ability land accuracy.

In shooting with a bow, the bowstring is normally drawnback with the tips f thelirst three lingers of the right hand, the string being released or loosed by merely As will be readily appreciated, unless the Yinsides of the fingers are covered they are likely to become sore from the repeated chaling action of the bowstring each time itis released. In some instances, in fact, an entire layer of skin has been removed at one shot. For this reason, archers have since ancient times worn either a leather shooting glove or a tab to protect their lingers.

The conventional tab, as distinguished from a glove which covers the entire hand, is merely a small piece of leather cut with two holes which slip over the fore 'and third ngers, the tax extending outwardly to cover the three working lingertips. A slot is cut between the fore andsecond linger so 4that the nocked end of the arrow may be projected therethrough to engage the bowstring. Unlike the relatively hot and uncomfortable shooting glove, a 'nger tab is .not uncomfortable to wear and it has the advantage that, if turned'back, it frees the hand at once for any other work. For this reason, and for `the reason that they are relatively inexpensive, linger tabs are preferred by many archers. Tabs, like gloves, have certain shortcomings, however, and are not entirely satisfactory for their intended purposes.

As hereinbefore mentioned, in loosing or releasing the bowstring, the proper method is to just let the string slide oft" rthe ngertips. Any jerkiness or unevenness in the release, no vmatter how slight,'tends to affect the liight of the arrow and `can spoil the accuracy of a shot. 'Unfortunately, when an archer is wearing a conventional leather shooting glove or tab, the bowstring sometimes sticks or catches momentarily on the leather during the release and the shot is spoiled. In addition, when a linger tab is used, the tab occasionally shifts slightly on the archers fingers during the shot, which can also cause the arrow to be deflected from its intended course.

With the above in mind, therefore, the general object of the present invention is to provide an archery linger tab which allords protection for the archers lingers without impairing his shooting accuracy.

A more particular object of the present invention is to provide a linger tab wherein the surface of the tab against which the bowstring is held is formed of a material having line soft hair, the hair being directed outwardly toward the archers lingertips so that the string will slide easily and smoothly oli the tab when released.

A further Specilic object is to provide a tab, as described, wherein the surface of the tab adjacent the archers fingers is also formed of a material having line hair, but wherein the direction of the hair is reversed, the hair lilaments engaging the skin and preventing the tab from shifting downwardly on the fingers during a shot.

A further specific object is to provide a tab wherein a single finger hole is provided, for the index linger, and wherein shoulders are `formed adjacent the fore and third lingers to insure the proper positioning of the tab on the archers hand.

A further specific object of the present invention is to Patented Sept. l2, ll

provide an archery tab, as described, wherein a layer of leather is interposed between the two hairy outer pieces to increase the thickness and protective qualities of the tab.

Still further objects of the present invention are to provide an improved archery tab which is inexpensive in design and construction, which is novel and attractive in appearance, and which is unusually well adapted for its intended purposes.

With the above and other objects in View, the invention consists of the improved archery tab, and all equvalents and modifications theref, and all of its parts and combinations, as set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference characters designate the same parts in all of the views:

FIG. 1 is a perspective View showing the improved tab in operative position on an archers hand;

FIG. -2 is a side elevational view of the tab;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the tab showing the side opposite that illustrated in TFIG. 2, and with parts thereof being broken away;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the ytab with the individual pieces shown in a partially separated condition; and

FlG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary cross sectional view taken along line 5 5 of FIG. 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, it will be seen that one end portion of the tab comprising the present invention is relatively narrow and has a hole 14 through which the archers index linger l5 (FIG. l) is projected. The opposite portion of the tab is enlarged, providing shoulders 16 'and 17 abutting the fore linger i8 and third linger 19, and extends outwardly to cover all three of the working fingertips when the tab is in operative position.

As illustrated in FiGS. 4 and 5, the tab includes an outer piece or layer 10, an intermediate piece t2, and `an inner piece 1l., said pieces having identical outlines and being bonded together to form a unitary tab. A cut-out portion or slot 25 is provided between the fore and second lingers so that the nocked end of an arrow 23 can be projected therethrough to engage the bowstring 13 (FIG. l).

The exterior piece lit, against which the bowstring bears when it is drawn, is formed of an animal skin having line, soft hair, the skin being positioned with the hair directed longitudinally outwardly toward the archers lingertips. Unborn calf skin is excellent for this purpose but it is to be understood that other materials having line hair, including synthetics, might also be used and the invention is not to be limited in this respect. As hereinbefore mentioned, the bowstring is released for a shot by merely letting it slide oli the fingertips and it `has been found that the sleek surface provided by the hair permits the string to slide easily and smoothly.

The inner piece 11 (FIGS. 3 and 5) of the tab is also formed of a hairy animal skin or similar material, but the material is' positioned with the hair directed longitudinally away from the fingertips. When the tab is in operative position the piece 11 is in contact with the archers hand and the individual hair filaments engage the skin -to prevent the tab from shifting downwardly on the lingers during a shot.

The intermediate piece l2 (FIGS. 4 and 5) is formed of leather or similar tough but supple material, and is designed to increase the thickness and protective qualities of the tab. As distinguished from the pieces 10 and 11, said intermediate piece is provided with a depending ilap 26 which ordinarily covers the slot 25 between the fore and second lingers. When an arrow is to be projected through said lot, as described, the liap 23 is swung upwardly and outwardly to a position on top of the arrow shaft and between the shaft and the archers foreiinger, thereby eliminating any direct contact between the linger and the arrow. Said intermediate piece is also provided with a small tab 22 which projects forwardly into the finger hole 14, said tab bearing against the archers index iinger to prevent outward sliding movement of the unit thereon.

As hereinbefore mentioned, the pieces 16, 1 1 and l2 are bonded together by means of glue 20 which is spread from the narrow end of the tab to about the longitudinal midpoint (line 21), it being unnecessary to apply the glue to the entire length of the tab and it being found that the outer enlarged portion becomes too stift and inflexible when glued. In contrast with existing archery tabs wherein the layers are sewn together, the present bonded tab has a perfectly smooth exterior surface devoid of stitches or other protrusions which might interfere with the free and even release of the bowstring.

In using the tab comprising the present invention, the archer slips the tab over his index finger, pulling the same downwardly until the shoulders 16 and 17 abut the bases of the fore and third fingers, respectively. As will be appreciated, this is considerably easier and quicker than mounting the tab on two tingers as is necessary with conventional tabs. In addition, said shoulders 16 and 17 enable the archer to tix the tab in exactly the same position each time he shoots, which promotes the consistency and accuracy of his shots. The bowstring is then hooked With the end portions of the first three fingers and the nocked end of the arrow projected through the' slot 25. After the bowstring has been drawn, it is released for a shot by straightening the lingers slightly and letting the string slide oli the iingertips.

The principal advantage of the present invention, of course, is in the smooth and easy release provided by the hairy outer surface of the tab. The bowstring always slides quickly and easily over the sleek surface and the possibility of the string catching on the tab, and spoiling the shot, is virtually eliminated. In addition, the oppositely-directed hair on the tab inner surface functions to oppose and downward shifting movement of the tab on the archers fingers and further insures the accuracy of his shot.

It is to be understood that various changes and modiiications may be made in the tab as above described without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is Ito be understood, too, that while several of the novel features of the invention might be used to advantage in conventional tabs, all of such uses, as well as such changes or modifications, are contemplated as may come within the scope of the following claims.

What We claim is:

l. An archery finger tab comprising: a first piece having an inner end portion with a ringer ho'le extending transversely therethrough and an enlarged outer portion having a slot therein through which an arrow shaft may be projected; an exterior piece superposed upon and secured to said rst piece, said exterior piece having a transverse finger hole therethrough in registration with the finger hole in said first piece, said exterior piece being formed of a material having hair on and lying flat against its exposed surface, and said exterior piece being positioned with the hair filaments directed toward the outer end of the tab; and an inner piece superposed upon and secured to the opposite side of said first piece, said inner piece having a transverse finger hole therethrough in registration with the registering iinger holes in said iirst and exterior pieces, said inner vpiece being formed of a material having hair on and lying at against its exposed surface, and said inner piece being positioned with the hair filaments directed toward the tab inner end.

2. An archery linger tab having a front side and a back side, having an inner end portion with a finger hole extending 'transversely therethrough and an outer end portion adapted to cover the outer ends of an archers tirst three ngers only, having hair-like tilarnents on its front side directed toward 'the tab outer end, and said tab having hair-like filaments on its back side directed toward the tab inner end, the llatter filaments being engageable with the skin on an archers lingers to resist sliding movement of the tab on his iingers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,115,119 Park Apr. 26, 193s 2,411,926 Linick Dec. 3, 1946 2,834,018 Farmes May 13, 1958 

